"After over seven weeks of hard work and intense rehab, I've been advised by Dr. Andrews and other doctors that my shoulder injury clearly needs to be addressed surgically," Sanchez said in a statement. "The injury was recovering at an encouraging rate early on, and I avoided surgery as long as I could, but ultimately I was counseled by the doctors that they simply would have to repair my shoulder."

Sanchez suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Jets' third preseason game against the Giants while playing with reserve offensive linemen. He was placed on injured reserve Sept. 14 with a designation to return.

"Throughout this process, our goal has been to provide Mark every opportunity to return this season. He and our medical staff have worked very diligently to that end and now it has been concluded that surgery is required. He will have our full support for a complete recovery," said Jets general manager John Idzik.

Sanchez will not take the field during his fifth season with the Jets, who selected the USC product with the fifth overall pick of the 2009 draft. He helped New York to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons, but has struggled since.

In 15 games last season, Sanchez threw for 2,883 yards with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He was sacked 34 times and lost eight fumbles.

The Jets selected Geno Smith in the second round of this past April's draft and the West Virginia product was named the starting quarterback before the season opener.

Smith helped the Jets claim a last-second 30-28 win at Atlanta on Monday.